There is no such thing as going on cruise control when you are stage crew. Ricky Leung, a biomedical engineering student in his last year, puts his passion in lanterns and the people they reach. With creativity and knowledge in stage audio visual (AV) control, he garners the title “most valuable player” behind the scenes – a title well-demonstrated in his work during Covid, when his commitment to preserve team efforts allowed their annual show for first-year students to smoothly transition from stage play to film. Ricky is also a contributor to the “Chung Chi Co-wellness Peer Programme”, his cultural adaptation of the church confessional brings to campus a shelter of compassion.

Q: When did you start taking an active role in CC events?

I became a member of the Chung Chi Student Union publicity team in my first year. Our main goal was to provide our new students with an enjoyable experience at the orientation camps. We oversaw promotions and entertainment, including two stage plays. Traditions gave way for pandemic restrictions as Covid persisted, and our plays were settled into a 30-minute film.

This unprecedented arrangement was repeatedly deterred by the virus, as members of the team fell sick one after the other. It was not until a week before the release date that the rest of the crew heard “it’s a wrap”, but my work had just begun. I spent five whole days on postproduction for the film to air in time. The process was incredibly tough, but worth it for the great memories and friends made along the way.

Ricky stated that all kinds of technicians in stage performance are the supporters behind the scenes.

Q: What intrigues you about stage AV?

I took part in handling stage AV for the 40th anniversary celebration of my secondary school, thanks to encouragement from a few teachers. My responsibility involved more than the equipment itself; I also had to keep the vibes up and deal with anything unexpected. Another time was when I operated the stage lighting system for a dance performance held by the Chung Chi Mainland Student Association, which was an inter-university event that called for higher standards. It was important to consider tone, aperture and brightness, while synchronising to the beat. For example, solo performances meant all lights were dimmed except for a singular spotlight cast on the performer.

Engaging in this type of work gives me a rush like no other and has made me more appreciative of those who are often overlooked – these are people who work hard to make sure things go off without a hitch, yet we do not give them enough credit. In my case, perhaps the audience only realises what I do when things start to go haywire.

Q: Have any unexpected situations during work ever stunted you? How did you handle it?

One time at a debate competition, the live sound system could not update ahead of time, causing the judges to lose track of what debaters were saying. I had to come up with the best solution as soon as possible, one of the options being to move the judges, but that would have interrupted the debate. I also considered using Zoom for radio broadcasting, yet potential synchronisation issues would be too disruptive to an otherwise fair assessment.

Ultimately, I decided to go with the plan that had minimal impact on the event – to send live audio to the judges using the simultaneous interpretation system. This incident taught me to utilise available resources and to remain calm, to ensure smooth sailing even in unexpected situations like these.

Q: What interests you about the “Chung Chi Co-wellness Peer Programme”? Could you give us some insight on emotional support?

“Chung Chi Co-wellness Peer Programme” aims to go further than just improving students’ mental and physical wellbeing. Besides strengthening students’ understanding of mental health, the programme educates participants on how to provide timely emotional support to those around them, thereby fostering a more friendly campus environment. The initiative is truly meaningful. I often encourage participants to find a variety of activities that help them relax. For instance, hiking or going to concerts can contribute to positive mental health, but real-life constraints like bad weather or time limitations may come into play. That is when it is time for simpler pleasures.

This year, I installed a “tree hollow” device. Its name carries the meaning of active listener in our local culture, and the concept was inspired by confessionals. With privacy in mind, the “tree hollow” is a public display that allows people on campus to write their thoughts without anyone reading them.

I also handpicked 128 verses from a number of different songs and put them on keychains. Participants received these as a sort of reciprocation for the heartfelt notes they have written.

There are always unexpected situations during backstage support. Ricky learns to stay calm and utilises available resources to ensure smooth sailing.

Student Reporter Lee Yin Lok